Transparencyhttp://kunm.org
enGovernor Signs Health Care Price Comparison Billhttp://kunm.org/post/governor-signs-health-care-price-comparison-bill
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Gov. Susana Martinez signed a bill today that makes it so people seeking health care can find out what different routine procedures cost at hospitals around the state. Fourteen other states have these websites.</span></p><p></p>Sat, 11 Apr 2015 00:20:09 +0000Marisa Demarco59296 at http://kunm.orgGovernor Signs Health Care Price Comparison BillShaky Ground: Fracking And Earthquakeshttp://kunm.org/post/shaky-ground-fracking-and-earthquakes
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Inevitably, when talking about oil and gas development, the word<em> </em></span><em style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">f</span>racking</em><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;comes up in conversation.</span></p>Wed, 18 Mar 2015 23:00:22 +0000Laura Paskus58267 at http://kunm.orgShaky Ground: Fracking And EarthquakesKirtland AFB Threatens To Limit Media Access Over Our “Cheap-Shot” Coverage. Here Is Our Response.http://kunm.org/post/kirtland-afb-threatens-limit-media-access-over-our-cheap-shot-coverage-here-our-response
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">We recently published the first two stories in an ongoing&nbsp;</span><a href="http://publichealthnm.org/murky-waters/" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank"><u style="line-height: 1.5;">series on pollution and the Rio Grande</u></a><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;in which we plan to explore a range of topics and issues.</span></p>Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:15:03 +0000Elaine Baumgartel & Ed Williams57629 at http://kunm.orgKirtland AFB Threatens To Limit Media Access Over Our “Cheap-Shot” Coverage. Here Is Our Response.Lawmakers Push To Add State Contracts To Sunshine Portalhttp://kunm.org/post/lawmakers-push-add-state-contracts-sunshine-portal
<p>Scanned copies of all state contracts should be available on the <a href="http://sunshineportalnm.com">Sunshine Portal</a>, say two lawmakers who are proposing an update to the state transparency website.</p><p style="margin-left:-.5in;">Posting original documents would give New Mexicans a bigger window into state contracts, something that’s important to business owners, says one of the bill’s sponsors, Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque.</p>Thu, 26 Feb 2015 14:49:17 +0000Gwyneth Doland57379 at http://kunm.orgLawmakers Push To Add State Contracts To Sunshine PortalConsumer Advocates Demand Healthcare Transparencyhttp://kunm.org/post/consumer-advocates-demand-healthcare-transparency
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Whether they’re shopping for a refrigerator, a laptop or a used car, most people do some comparison shopping before making a big purchase.</span></p><p>But that’s not the way healthcare works in New Mexico, where comparing prices for a hip replacement or asthma treatment is practically impossible.&nbsp;</p>Tue, 24 Feb 2015 13:54:05 +0000Gwyneth Doland57282 at http://kunm.orgConsumer Advocates Demand Healthcare TransparencyLobbyist Disclosure Reforms Shelvedhttp://kunm.org/post/lobbyist-disclosure-reforms-shelved
<p>Skeptical lawmakers rejected a proposal Monday that would have given the public more information about lobbying at the state Legislature.</p><p>The bill (<a href="http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/15%20Regular/firs/HB0155.PDF">HB 155</a>) would have required lobbyists to divulge their salaries, file reports of their estimated and actual lobbying expenses, and list the issues—but not the exact bills—they are working on.</p>Tue, 10 Feb 2015 01:27:26 +0000Gwyneth Doland & New Mexico In Depth56643 at http://kunm.orgLobbyist Disclosure Reforms ShelvedLobbyists Lax On Spending Disclosureshttp://kunm.org/post/lobbyists-lax-spending-disclosures
<p>Ski passes. Dinner parties. Meals during committee hearings. Basketball and football tickets.</p><p></p><p>Individual lobbyists spent more than $1.6 million on gifts, meals and entertainment for New Mexico’s elected officials and staff in the four years from 2011 through 2014. Most of that went to the lawmakers in the New Mexico Legislature, but other elected officials and staffers benefitted too.</p><p></p><p>Over the same period businesses and organizations spent more than $379,000 directly to fete elected officials with parties, golf passes and more.</p><p></p>Fri, 06 Feb 2015 22:35:16 +0000New Mexico In Depth & Sandra Fish56523 at http://kunm.orgLobbyists Lax On Spending DisclosuresLingering Concerns During WIPP Cleanuphttp://kunm.org/post/lingering-concerns-during-wipp-cleanup
<p></p><p>As cleanup of the <a href="http://wipp.energy.gov/wipprecovery/recovery.html">Waste Isolation Pilot Plant</a> commences, folks down south remain concerned about transparency and oversight.</p><p></p>Thu, 18 Dec 2014 22:33:17 +0000Marisa Demarco54431 at http://kunm.orgLingering Concerns During WIPP CleanupGov. Martinez Highlights Bipartisanshiphttp://kunm.org/post/gov-martinez-highlights-bipartisanship
<p></p><p>Republican Gov. Susana Martinez secured a second term last night, beating her Democratic challenger Gary King handily. Martinez emphasized bipartisanship during her acceptance speech at t<span style="line-height: 1.5;">he Marriott in Albuquerque, which was packed with Republicans from around the state.</span></p><p>As Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela introduced Gov. Martinez late&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 1.5;">Tuesday night, he focused on her heart—perhaps a nod to opponent Gary King’s maligned comment about the governor’s not being Latino enough.&nbsp;</span></p>Wed, 05 Nov 2014 11:26:56 +0000Marisa Demarco52625 at http://kunm.orgGov. Martinez Highlights BipartisanshipThink Tank: Why Can't Patients Compare Prices?http://kunm.org/post/think-tank-why-cant-patients-compare-prices
<p></p><p></p><p>A nonpartisan think tank in New Mexico released a report on health care costs this week suggesting that providers should be more transparent about the price of procedures up front.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Fred Nathan is the founder and executive director of Think New Mexico. The group’s report says New Mexicans are spending more out of their pockets for health care than ever before, and most of that extra money is going to administrative costs—not to doctors’ salaries or improved care for patients.</span></p>Thu, 09 Oct 2014 21:22:20 +0000Marisa Demarco51578 at http://kunm.orgThink Tank: Why Can't Patients Compare Prices?Arizona Companies Prepare To Manage New Mexico Behavioral Health Providers http://kunm.org/post/arizona-companies-prepare-manage-new-mexico-behavioral-health-providers
<p>When the <a href="http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/" target="target_blank">New Mexico Human Services Department </a>(NMHSD) announced last month it would suspend Medicaid payments to 1<a href="http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_23528789/audit-nm-mental-health-cos-possible-fraud?source=most_emailed" target="target_blank">5 behavioral health providers</a>, Joe Frechen was worried.</p><p>For nearly 20 years, Frechen has worked as psychiatrist in Southern New Mexico with some of the most vulnerable patients in the region.</p>Fri, 26 Jul 2013 19:38:31 +0000Tristan Ahtone & Bryant Furlow32736 at http://kunm.orgArizona Companies Prepare To Manage New Mexico Behavioral Health Providers